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Birchington
Birchington maps
Historic maps of Birchington and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Birchington maps
Birchington area books
Displaying 1 of 24 books about Birchington and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Birchington
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memories of Birchington.
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Birchington in The 50s !
Many happy memories of Birchington - my sister (born 1933) often used to take me to the Ice Cream Parlour which until about 5 years ago still had the rattan chairs and tables and distinctive smell of vanilla. Most family links through Mill Row and Mill Lane (off Canterbury Road and near Court Mount) with aunt and uncle moving into Shamrock Villas in 1911 when first built. Lots of connections through Stringers (mother's sister Edith) Kings (mother's sister Lillian) and Dennes. Recent checks have traced Dennes back many generations including marrying Crispe of Quex about 1433 ! Also to local Hoodeners troup in 1920s. Happy New Year to al.l
Ice-Cream Parlour
I can also remember the ice-cream parlour from when I was little, we used to stop here on the way back from the beach, we lived in Broadstairs. In fact at present (2011) the parlour still kind of exists, but is closed! Most of the original decor was changed in 2005 when the owners retired, but it remained an ice-cream parlour and is currently up for lease.
Birchington & Minnis Bay
I was partly raised in Birchington during the 1950's, my Nan & Grandad and Aunts & Uncles also lived there, I would spend all my summer holidays there at my Nan's house in Park Avenue ...happy days, I still think about them even today we would spend much time in Minnis Bay, Beresford etc, Birchington was a lovely place & still sometimes visit it
Birchington, Epple Bay And Minnis Bay
Birchington with two bays and a village atmosphere 'in town'. A rail station with the most wonderful ice cream parlour opposite - wicker chairs on those old fashioned curved steel bases and circular wicker tables with glass tops - and ice cream to die for! Mr Whippy was barely born when ice cream in glass or metal dishes on stems with tasty wafers (unlike those of the 21st century) were the treat of all time! Models of knickerbocker glories and banana splits at 5 times the price of ice cream in dishes lined glass shelves behind the counter, always aspired to - disappointing when actually had one at what used to be Pelosi, Ramsgate in 1993! Birchington High Street full of little shops with interesting windows leading to the church, square and war memorial, a junction of roads leading out into Kent sea and countryside - and to the Thanet Way to London. Easterly from the High Street through attractive residential areas is Epple Bay.... Read more
Summer Days at Minnis Bay
In the early 1960s my dad would drive us down to Birchington in his Morris Oxford to visit my grandparents who lived in Lancaster Gardens. We would visit on a Sunday about twice a month and in the summer we would sometimes walk across the cabbage fields, cross the railway line and paddle in the sea at Minnis Bay. On some occations we would all go for a drive and I can remember going to Sandwich past the firework factory, the hooverport and lots of other places that looked so interesting to me. I remember going down the Thanet Way one Christmas Day and only seeing about half a dozen cars on the whole trip. Happy days.
4th Bexleyheath Cub Scouts Camp at Birchington
In the 1950s we called ourselves "Wolf Cubs" and I remember being taken in the back of a removal lorry with all our camping gear for a week long camp with the 4th Bexleyheath Cubs at Birchington.
Although it was supposed to be a "camp" in fact we all stayed in a hut but spent most of our time on happy outdoor activities. The highlight was a day's outing to Margate. I remember buying a souvenir plastic salt and pepper pot to take home to my Mum and Dad!
I had a great time with the cub pack for more than two years until I moved to Bournemouth in 1954. This camp at Birchington was the event I remember most. Now I am in my mid-sixties but I still have the handful of badges I earned as a cub!
Kent memories
Seaside Holiday at Westgate-On-Sea
My earliest memories of the seaside are from the 1950's. We lived in Bexleyheath and - like most people - did not own a car in those far off austerity years after the war. For this reason our summer holidays were always on the nearby north Kent coast and we would travel by train!
Our family had two summer holidays in Westgate-On-Sea - each of them a fortnight staying in a hotel. I remember playing on the sand in St Mildrid's Bay and West Bay, a ride on an open-top bus, an evening in "Dreamland" at nearby Margate, and seeing Reculver Tower which vividly brought to life the history lesson I had at Pelham Road School in Bexleyheath! Happy Days !!
